Apple's iPhone 5 is proving difficult for hackers to jailbreak, but it looks like they're getting closer.

Hackers have made progress in cracking the iPhone 5, but it's not ready just yet

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Apple's iPhone 5 is proving difficult for hackers to jailbreak, but it looks like they're getting closer.

Back in September, just days after the iPhone 5 launched, a hacker claimed to have jailbroken the device, and published screenshots onto his Twitter feed as evidence. However, the jailbreak has still not emerged on the web for the rest of the world to download.

Jailbreaking involves modifying Apple's iOS software to allow users to install apps that are not available from Apple's App Store, and customise the device's appearance. It is worth noting that jailbreaking a device can violate Apple's warranty.

Cult Of Mac reports that the group of hackers responsible for cracking Apple's iOS and sharing the jailbreaks on the web have seen the biggest challenge yet with the iPhone 5.

"Apple has patched multiple exploits that have been used in the past," reads the report. "Assembling a new jailbreak is like putting together a really intricate jigsaw puzzle or an expensive watch. It involves multiple exploits working together in harmony, like a complicated symphony."

Hacker planetbeing, who's first name is David, tweeted a photograph of the of an iPhone 5 running a jailbreak tweak this week. "Can't say too much, but we're still missing critical pieces so it's not releasable right now," he said. "Believe me, we'd love to release it ASAP."

"I would characterize it more as finding the missing pieces rather than debugging at this stage," he said. "Typically the messiest part of the jailbreak process has been installing it in the first place."

David was busy working on the jailbreak at the JailbreakCon (WWJC) in September. "We're further along than WWJC," he said this week. "But again, I can't give any specifics. The jailbreak itself is stable but we're missing needed exploits. I can't discuss what we're missing."

Although David didn't specify an estimated arrival date for the iPhone 5 break, when asked if the outlook was 'grim' he replied "not at all," indicating that he is confident it will arrive soon.